



Dec. 12, 1944. R www 364,837

PLOW

Filed May 5, 1943 2 SheetS-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 12, 1944 l UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE PLOW Robert J. Wray, Modesto, Calif. ApplicationMay 5, 1943, Serial No. 485,742

9 Claims.

This invention relates to plows. for vineyard use, and particularly to aplowof this general type adapted to cultivate close to the trunks of thevines.

One object of the invention is to provide a plow for the purpose soconstructed that the plow element will be automatically deflectedlaterally relative to the line of draft from actual contact with anytrunk as the plow moves along a row of vines, allowing of the dirt to becultivated close to the vines as is desirable.

Another object is to mount the plow element so that its resistance tobeing thus deflected may be readily altered to suit dilerent operationsconditions.

A further object is to mount the plow as a whole in connection with adrait tractor in such a manner that if for some reason the plow elenment is not automatically deflected sumcient to miss a vine trunk, theentire plow structure will then deflect laterally relative to the lineoi draft but will reassume its normal position .as soon as the trunk iscleared.

The plow structure includes a plowing disc, which to function isnecessarily set at an angle to the line of draft.

Still another object of the invention is to mount the disc so that itsangle may be changed as operating conditions may render advisablewithout aiecting the operation of the automatic deflecting feature.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensivedevice, and yet one which will be exceedingly effective -for the purposefor which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relativearrangement oi parts as will fully appear by a perusal or" the followingspecication and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in the several views:

Figure l. is a plan view of my improved plow as attached to a tractor.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the plow, de tached from the tractor,and looking at a forward angle.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on thedrawings, the frame of the plow structure comprises a front cross beam ihaving an upstanding A-unit rigid therewith and provided at its upperend with a clevis 3. Trunnions i project from the 'opposite sides of theA-unit adjacent its lower end. The clevis and trunnions serve as a meansfor attachment to a draft tractor, as will be hereinafter seen.

Fixed rigid with the beam l at one end and projecting rearwardly at adownward slope and in laterally diverging relation to the line of draftin a direction toward the row of vines being cultivated is another beam5. This beam is maintained in non-yielding relation with the beam l by arear cross bar 6 parallel to said beam l; brace straps 'l and 8projecting forwardly from the bar 6 and connected with the beam i andunit 2 respectively. 'I'he beams l5 and crossbar E thus form a rigidunit, and constitute the frame structure of the device.

A plow beam 9, generally parallel to the beam 5, is disposed above thesame and is pivotally supported intermediate its ends from the framestructure for swinging movement in a generally horizontal plane by aking-pin ld. This kingpin is turnable in a bearing I2 xed on the framein the corner between the beam t and the bar t; the beam 9 thusprojecting rearwardly of the frame structure.

A bracket i3 is disposed directly under the beam t at its rear end andis pivotally secured therewith by a bolt H; turning -of the bracketbeing normally prevented by another bolt it ad- .iustably connecting thebracket and said beam ahead of the bolt it. A spindle it projectsrearwardly from the bracket and supports a turnable plowing disc il ofconventional character; which while substantially at right angles to thebeam d is also disposed at a forward diverging angle to the line ofdraft and to one side of the iront cross beam i,

A substantially horizontal curved deector Tail it is rigidly lined inconnection with the beam t and extends from in front of the disc to ateru mination at the beam adjacent the king-pin it; a guard plate itextending upwardly over from said rail and curving over the adjacentupper portion of the disc.

A tension spring 2@ connects at one end with the beam d ahead of thepivot it, and at the other end is connected to a supporting strap @iwhich is mounted for longitudinal adjustment in a vdirectionsubstantially at right angles to the beam 9, on a diagonal brace 22extending between the beam 5 and bar t. The pulling .action of thespring on the beam d tending to swing the rear portion of the beamforwardly, is limited by the engagement of said beam with a stop mountedon the brace 22 for adjustment along the same.

From the above description it will be seen that if the frame is beingpulled forwardly in a line substantially at right angles to the crossbeam i and the disc is operating in the path of a trunk of a vine, suchtrunk will be engaged by the rail Il and the beam l will be swung back,so as to deflect the disc i1 clear of the vine and avoid damagingcontact of the disc with the vine and adjacent roots. The spring is thenplaced under increased tension so that the beam I will be returned toits original position as soon as the rail clears the vine. The may bealtered by altering the setting of the support 2l on the brace 22, whilethe working angle of the disc may be altered by changing the position ofthe stop 23, or to a greater extent by changing the position of thebracket i3 relative to the beam 9.

In addition, the plow structure can swing laterally relative to thedraft tractor 24, in the event that the swing of the beam 9 does notresult in disc clearance, by reason of the following draft connection:The trunnions 4 are connected to the tractor by transversely spacedlaterally swingable draft 'arms 25, the clevis 3 being also connected tothe tractor at a higher level by a centrally disposed laterallyswingable arm 2B or the like. The angle of draft of the plow discnaturally tends to cause the plow structure as a whole to shift towardthe corresponding side, such shifting being limited by a flexibletension element such as a chain 21 connected between the arm 25 on saidside and a rigid member of the tractor. A tension spring 28 connects theother arm 25'and the tractor and acts to hold said chain taut and theplow structure shifted toward the corresponding side of the tractor. If,however, the rail i8 when deflected as far as the movement of the beam 9will allow, fails to clear a vine, the chain 21 slackens and the spring28 is tensioned. This allows the plow structure to shift bodily, whileat the same time the spring exerts a pull on the plow structure torestore it to its original position once the obstruction is cleared. l

If a stronger or longer spring is required, such a spring may extenddiagonally between the tractor on one side and the front end portion ofthe plow frame on the opposite side, as indicated in Fig. 1.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I haveproduced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of theinvention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferredconstruction of the device, still in practice such deviations from suchdetail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit ofthe invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new and useful anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A vineyard plow comprising a frame adapted for movement along theground in a substantially straight draft line, a plow beam mounted onthe frame for swinging movement in a substantially horizontal plane andprojecting beyond the rear end and one side thereof, said beam beingdisposed in rearwardly diverging relation to said draft line, a plowelement supported from the beam adjacent its rear end and disposed inforwardly diverging relation to said line, means acting on the beam toresist swinging movement thereof in a direction to shift the rear endthereof transversely and toward the opposite side of the frame and meansto alter the normal angle of divergence of the plow normal tension ofthe spring' assess? the angie of the plow element relative to the lineof draft.

2. A vineyard plow comprising a frame adapted for movement along theground in a substantially straight draft line a plow beam mounted on theframe for swinging movement in a substantially horizontal plane andprojecting beyond the rear end and one side thereof, said beam beingdisposed in rearwardly diverging relation to said draft line, a plowdisc supported from the beam adjacent its rear end and disposed inforwardly diverging relation to said line, means acting on the beam toresist swinging movement thereof in a direction to shift the rear endthereof transversely and toward the opposite side of the frame, adeflector rail secured on the beam and extending in front of the discand a guard plate proiecting upwardly from the rail and over the upperforward portion of the disc.

3. A vineyard plow comprising a frame adapted for movement along theground in a substantially straight draft line, a plow beam verticallyspaced from the frame and projecting beyond one side of the same, meanspivotally mounting the beam intermediate its ends on the frame, a plowdisc supported from the rear end of the beam and disposed at a forwardlydiverging angle to the line of draft, a tension spring extendingrearwardly from and secured at one end on the beam ahead of its pivot, asupport for the rear end of the spring and means mounting the support onthe frame for adjustment in a direction lengthwise i of the spring.

4. A structure as in claim 3, with an adjustable stop mounted inconnection with the frame and engaged by the beam to limit movement ofthe latter in the direction of pull of the spring.

5. In the combination of a tractor and a vineyard plow, the tractorhaving transversely spaced draft arms swingable laterally through alimited arc and the plow including a frame to which the arms at theirrear end are connected, and a plow disc supported from the frame foryieldably resisted lateral movement toward one side of the tractor anddisposed on the other side of the tractor at a forwardly diverging anglewhereby upon forward movement of the tractor the frame will tend toshift toward said other side; and a spring between one draft arm and thetractor acting to yieldably resist movement of said arm and the frametoward said one side of the tractor.

6. In the combination of a tractor and a vineyard plow, the tractorhaving transversely spaced draft arms swingable laterally through alimited arc and the plow including a frame to which the arms at theirrear end are connected, and a plow disc supported from the frame anddisposed to one side of the tractor at a forwardly diverging anglewhereby upon forward movement of the tractor the frame will tend toshift toward said side; and means actuated by an obstruction in the pathof the disc to shift the same laterally toward the opposite side of thetractor; and a spring between one draft arm and the tractor acting toyieldably resist movement of said arm and the frame toward said oppositeside of the tractor while allowing of such movement of the frame if saidmeans fails to clear the obstruction.

'7. In the combination of a tractor and a vineyard plow, havingconnecting draft means to allow limited lateral movement of the plowrelative to the tractor; the plow including a frame and a plow discsupported therefrom for yieldably resisted lateral movement toward oneside of the beam whereby to alter tractor and disposed on the other sideof the tractor at an angle to the line of draft, such projecting beyondthe rear end and one side that upon forward movement of the tractor thethereof, said beam being disposed in rearwardly frame will tend to shifttoward said other side diverging relation to said line oi draft, a plowand a. spring mounted on the tractor and acting element supported fromthe beam adjacent its on the frame to yieldably resist lateral move- 5rear end and disposed in forwardly diverging independent of lateralmovement of the disc relaangle of divergence of the plow beam whereby totive to the frame. alter the angle of the disc relative to the line 8. Astructure asin claim 1,'with means mountof draft and comprising abracket secured in ing the plow element on the beam for swinging l0connection with the beam adjacent its rear end movement relative theretoto independently alter for adJustable swinging movement in a substantheangle of divergence of said element. y tially horizontal plane, and aplow element sup- 9. A vineyard plow comprising a frame adapted portingspindle rigid with and projecting rearfor movement along a predeterminedline of'drait, wardly from the bracket.

a plow beam mounted on the frame for swinging 15 ROBERT J. WRAY.

movement in a substantially horizontal plane and

